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About Us

@SLIC recognizes living an independent life is a fundamental human right. We aim to assist and advocate for our senior adults and individuals with disabilities in living positive, productive and fulfilling lives within our community.

Southwest Louisiana Independence Center, Inc.

Successful Living Independently within the Community

Southwest Louisiana Independence Center, Inc. (@SLIC), a 501 C-3 non-profit agency, is a non-residential agency of action, advocacy and coalition where persons with disabilities and the elderly can become empowered to develop the skills necessary to make effective lifestyle choices. We strive to support those with disabilities and our elderly by connecting them with resources needed to live independently. We offer services for their support in becoming or remaining active participants in their communities. Through collaboration, we promote their independent living through our various programs. Our aim is to enable those with disabilities to take control of their lives, make decisions about their future and ultimately avoid unnecessary institutionalization.

In 1985, @SLIC opened its doors in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The organization, like many of its kind nationally, recognizes living an independent life is a fundamental human right. Before organizations like @SLIC existed, living a life of dependency and low satisfaction were common for disabled individuals and their families. Besides employment opportunities, job coaching and job training, @SLIC provides awareness advocacy and independent living for persons with disabilities.

SLIC services represented at outdoor event

Our Mission

Our Mission is to assist and advocate for people with disabilities and seniors in living positive, productive lives within our community - functioning as independently as possible in their chosen environment.

Centers for Independent Living are community-based, cross-disability, non-profit organizations designed to assist and encourage persons with disabilities through various programs. Our goal at @SLIC is to do just that – advocate, counsel, train and support our disabled residents to live the very best life possible.

Advocacy

Independent Living Skills Training

Information and Referral

Transitioning

Peer Counseling

Our History

  1. group photo of SLIC employees

    1985

    How We Got Started

    In 1985, @SLIC started off as an Independent Living Center offering four core services: Peer Counseling, Advocacy, Information and Referral and Independent Living Skills Training. At that time, @SLIC also provided Interpreting services for the deaf.
  2. Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge

    1992

    We Begin Offering State Services

    In 1992, @SLIC began the Personal Care Assistant (PCA) Waiver program, which was only offered by Centers of Independent Living (CIL). @SLIC also started providing State Personal Assistant Services (SPAS) around this same time, paving the way for us to extend Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) services to our consumers as well.
  3. amplified equipment available for the deaf

    2000

    We Expand Our Interpreting Services

    In 2000, we contracted with Louisiana Commission of the Deaf (LCD) to distribute amplified equipment, offer a hearing aid program and to expand our interpreting services available to the deaf community.
  4. SLIC representative & consumer at bowling event

    2004

    We Evolve With The Times

    In 2004, the state of Louisiana replaced the PCA Waiver program with Long-term Personal Care Services (LT-PCS) and the Elderly and Disabled Adult (EDA) programs. @SLIC’s services evolved with the changes made, allowing us to offer all available Louisiana services.
  5. a

    2020

    Where We Are Today

    Today, we now offer all Home and Community Based services available in Louisiana, our core services, as well as other services designed to support people with disabilities and the elderly.

Our Team

We also practice what we preach — as a non-profit entity, 51% of our staff has some form of disability.

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Randy Dartez
Executive Director

As @SLIC’s Director and a self-advocate who suffers with a learning disability, Randy knows the struggles of overcoming obstacles. He had to adapt to different learning styles to not only graduate from High School, but also McNeese State University to become a Registered Nurse. He worked 3 years in ICU, 17 years in Home Health, with several of those years as a Director. “I have found my calling advocating for the elderly and individuals with disabilities so that they can live independent lives. Never let someone tell you that you can not do something. I hope that my trials inspire others to overcome obstacles that they may face.”

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Phillip Credeur
Assistant Director

Phillip a Navy veteran and UL Lafayette graduate, has maintained personal relationships with the disability community throughout his life growing up with disabled siblings, a grandparent, and an uncle. He advocates for his triplet stepsons with multiple disabilities and he is part of the Lake Charles Mayor’s Commission on Disability. Due to personal struggles Phillip knows not all disabilities are seen and as the Assistant Director Phillip strives to empower his team to have all the tools necessary to assist everyone in need.

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Christina Dartez
Lake Charles HCBS Administrator

Christina Graduated from McNeese State University’s nursing program in 2001 and obtained her Registered Nurse License. She worked in area hospitals and rehab facilities for many years. She has always had a passion for working with the elderly, those with physical limitations, and the developmentally disabled. In 2016, she joined SLIC as the agency RN and in 2020 she accepted the HCBS Administrator position. A quote from Christina reflecting how she feels working with SLIC, ``I truly love being a part of this company and the community we serve. I love to see our participants gain confidence and independence and being able to be a part of that.``

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Brenda Brooks
Lake Charles Lead Case Coordinator

Hired with SLIC on September 12, 2018. Brenda was born and raised in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and retired from the State of Louisiana (Louisiana Rehabilitation Services) after 36 years of employment. Her hobbies include finding good shopping deals, traveling, cooking, and sewing.

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Gayla Duckworth
Lafayette Lead Case Coordinator

Gayla Duckworth originally from Illinois, moved to Lafayette Louisiana with husband in 2007 for employment advancement. Now living in Youngsville Louisiana which is now one of the most fastest growing cities in the United States. Mother of one daughter and one son; Lauri now 27 years of age and Mitchell now 25 years of age. Worked as a personal care attendant from 1981-1989 in a home for a person having quadriplegia; 1989-2007 Mental Health Center as Habilitation Program Coordinator/Case Manager for Dual Diagnosis Mental Illness and Developmental Disabilities, Bachelors in Social Work received from Southeast Missouri State University.

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Danielle Credeur
Lafayette HCBS Administrator

Danielle Credeur has four sons, three of which are triplets with multiple disabilities. The triplets are 17 years old, and she has been advocating since day one. Danielle has worked in the disability community for eleven years. She started as a Direct Support Worker, moved to Administrative Assistant, then became a Case Coordinator, and was promoted again to Charge Case Coordinator. In 2019 she was asked to become the HCBS Administrator for the Lafayette Office. Danielle stays busy with various councils and groups. She is part of the Louisiana Statewide Independent Living Council, FHF Parent Advisory group, People First of Louisiana, and she is the Co-Chair of the Changing Spaces Campaign for the Louisiana Chapter. Quote from Danielle, “It makes my heart happy to help parents of a child with a disability get the resources they need early on to make this journey in life a little less stressful.”

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Angela Semien
Lake Charles Case Coordinator

Angela Semien is a Case Coordinator / Independent Living Specialist that has been with @S.L.I.C. since October 20th, 2020. She has over a decade of professional experience with facilitating, advocating, and supporting consumers with moving towards their own individualized plans, goals and seeks to make a positive impact. She’s from Iowa, Louisiana and outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and pets and traveling.

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Carey Rohrbeck
Lake Charles Case Coordinator

Before coming to @SLIC Carey finished her bachelor's at McNeese State in Business. In previous management and sales jobs she enjoyed finding ways to make a positive difference in someone’s day. Her goal of “doing something that matters” has been well targeted since coming on board with @SLIC at the end of 2019 as a Case Coordinator.

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Marilyn George
Lake Charles Case Coordinator

Marilyn Abshire George was born and raised in Sulphur, LA. Her parents had 10 children and her place was 9th in line. Marilyn's passion has been working with those that have special needs. Her younger brother was born with Down's Syndrome and throughout their childhood and adulthood, she was present for everything he participated in. She became his caregiver in 2001 and was blessed to have him with her each day for 20 years until he passed away unexpectedly in 2021. @SLIC was the provider agency she chose once his waiver was approved and in her words, ``I am so fortunate to carry on ``our`` work as a Case Coordinator for the company.`` She has been married to Jeff George for over 30 years. They have two wonderful children and 8 grandchildren that all live in the area.

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Tina Joubert
Lake Charles Case Coordinator

Christina Joubert was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, but raised in a small community called Plaisance, Louisiana. She is a Case Coordinator and has been working at @Southwest Louisiana Independence Center since April 12, 2022. In her words, ``I have always worked in Healthcare because it is my desire to serve and aid the lives of those in need. Because I grew up in a small community, serving others is familiar to me. I am honest, loyal, trustworthy, and dependable.`` Her hobbies are painting crafts, but her passion is singing and serving because she believes she is blessed to be a blessing.

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TaShayla Trahan
Lake Charles Case Coordinator

Hired December 10, 2020 with SLIC. TaShayla was born and raised in Lake Charles, La. She is a wife and a mother. A quote from TaShayla, ``I enjoy helping people! We were put on this Earth to serve others and I take pride in doing so!``

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Ericka Calais
Lafayette Case Coordinator

Ericka Calais is a mother of two daughters. She is a Case Coordinator and been with @SLIC for four and a half years. She was born and raised in Lafayette, La. and graduated from Lafayette High school. She also received three years of education from ULL formally USL. During those three years she studied different Psychology courses that gave her a better understanding of the human mind and people. Along with her first hand experiences with her family and the knowledge that she retained, it made her want to pursue a career in this field. A quote from Ericka, ``I really enjoy caring for people and learning how to understand us. People are different and unique in their own way. I strive to encourage people to bring out the best of themselves.``

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Tiffiney Gobert
Lafayette Case Coordinator

Tiffiney Gobert is a mother to 3 beautiful girls. She is a Case Coordinator and has been working for SLIC for 5 years. Tiffiney started out with SLIC as an Administrative Assistant/Payroll. She assisted with our HAP/Telecommunications program and also helped with many other things. Since her transition to Case Coordinator she has really enjoyed the new position and building relationships with her consumers and DSW’s. A quote from her, ``advocating for individuals with disabilities has become a passion of mine and I look forward to many more years advocating, learning and working with the amazing team we have.``